I'm looking at possibly grabbing a friend's 78 F150 for a couple hundred dollars (150-200). It's packing a 351M and a bad transmission. The transmission in it is Automatic. My desire is to replace that automatic with a manual. My question thus is this: What Automatic transmissions could have been in it, and what manual transmissions were offered for it? It's 4 wheel drive, as well. In switching over to a manual that was designed to go into it, would I just have to cut out the hole in the floor for the shifter to go and cover it up with some sealant and a rubber grommet around the shifter itself to close the cab? I have my current truck (89 F150 300-6 2WD) but if I can get this truck for 150 bucks, and a T18 or T19 (I'd assume one of them was offered to back it up) for the same or less...it'd be REALLY nice to have a reliable, relatively low-mileage 4WD'er for this coming winter - I live in the country now and college might be missed for several days otherwise.

Thanks guys...hopefully I can get this worked out. ^_^

 

I'd fix the C6.

 

Was the C6 the only automatic transmission offered in that model year of trucks?

I have a disdane for automatics, though...but how much would it cost to get a C6 rebuilt? Like...what would parts cost?

Another question: What would it cost to get transmissions from a junkyard? Like..T18/T19's, C6, Toploaders, etc? I'm not up to date on these things...

 

for that engine, it was the c-6 or the 4 speed t-18. The c-4 was offered with the 302, but thats it.

 

the only practicle way is to buy a donor truck
you need all the new linkages, clutch pedal, brake pedal
and about 20 extra small parts

 

costs about $75 for a kit to do aC6 and you can buy a video to teach you how

 

My friend that I'm buying it from is basically a mechanic.

150 for the truck, 75 for the kit...maybe I could offer him another 150 to rebuild the transmission for me. I still hate automatics...but you're right, it would be a bit of a pain to mod it out to a manual.

Anybody have a weblink I can go to to find this rebuild kit? Also, is the kit you're referring to a complete rebuild? Or is it without some components?

New tangent: 351m, C6, 4WD - How hard would it be to make this a 4-Wheeling rig? Also...is the 351m stout enough? This thing isn't a beautiful truck so I wouldn't feel bad.

 

The $75 tranny kit is from Nortern auto parts in Sioux City Ia. I dont have their website info handy, but they shouldnt be hard to find. The kit is complete-band clutches and bushings and seals- I've used several of them. I'm like you, I prefer a 4-speed, but I use C6's in my mud racers. If your 351 runs good I see no reason why it wouldnt make a good wheeler if you dont go overboard with tire size.

 

OOPS-I misspelled- It's Northern , not Nortern- my bad

 

You left out the NP 435.